Newsflash: there's absolutely no correlation between this age-old diet and the highly-respected medical clinic with the same name. The Mayo Clinic Diet is pretty much another name for the faddish Grapefruit Diet with about as much substance as a chain letter. High in fat, low in calories, there's not much matter to this quick-fix weight loss plan, other than the fact grapefruit does contain some health-enhancing properties, which improve heart health and lower cholesterol.
Breakfast: ½ grapefruit, 2 eggs, 2 slices of bacon. Lunch: ½ grapefruit, salad with any type of dressing, as much red meat or other meat source as you'd like. Dinner: ½ a grapefruit, salad with any kind of dressing you'd like. Before bed drink an eight-ounce glass of skim milk or tomato juice.
The basic rules of thumb of this shady diet plan:
Eat the minimum amount of food listed. Don't eliminate any of the foods, especially the bacon or salads as it's the combination of foods that burns fat. The grapefruit is a must since it jumpstarts the fat-burning process. Cut back on coffee which alters insulin balance. Don't eat between meals. Eliminate sugars and starches, but feel free to fry food in butter. Avoid all processed foods. Eat until you are full - the more you eat, the more you lose.
You'll have a hard time finding any diet expert or nutrition professional who'll support this low-calorie, nutritionally-deficient plan. Especially anyone from the Mayo Clinic.
Comment #1
(Posted by Larry Thomas) Rating
How can you lose weigth by eating fried foods, eating until you get full and drinking milk before you go to bed? Sound far fetch to me.
Comment #2
(Posted by angela) Rating
I HAVE TRIED THIS DIET TWICE BEFORE AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT DOES WORK. OF COURSE YOU ALSO WORKOUT AND YOU SEE BETTER RESULTS. THE FIRST TIME I TRIED I DID IT FOR 2 MONTHS STRAIGHT, NO CHEATING AND I LOST 20 POUNDS. THE SECOND I TRIED IT FOR 2 WEEKS AFTER I HAD MY DAUGHTER AND I LOST 15 POUNDS. ALSO INCLUDING A LITTLE WORKOUT. SO I DO HAVE FAITH IN THIS DIET.
Comment #3
(Posted by Lacey) Rating
Really not so unrealistic. Not to far different from the way gastric bypass people are expected to eat. The idea being because of the lack of variety you will naturally eat less. With all of the fat and protein your appetite will be more under control. The high protein level will also put you body into ketosis, which will cause your body to burn fat rather than muscle, so your metabolism will keep going unlike a high carbohydrate diet,however you probably won't smell very good!
Comment #4
(Posted by haidz) Rating
tried this before and it worked..=)
Comment #5
(Posted by KW) Rating
You know with everything that we do in this lifetime there is always going to be someone that is going to try to bring it down, I've tried this diet before also and it really works, if people would quit being lazy; excersie and eat right they will see an even better,slimer,healthier person.
Comment #6
(Posted by Barbara) Rating
I also tried it years ago and lost 30 pounds and kept it off for years. I did exercise during the diet and that also helped; if only for the distraction while dieting. I still love grapefruit!
Comment #7
(Posted by Mary) Rating
I've tried this diet several times as well, works EVERY time. Once I even lost 40 lbs on it. I'm currently on it again right now. It's a great way to shock-start weight loss. Of course you have to gradually introduce low-carb foods into your diet over time since you can't eat this way forever.
Comment #8
(Posted by catt) Rating
My dad and I used to do this together once a year
back in the 70's and 80's - worked like a charm! 12 lbs gone in two weeks every time, if you followed it exactly. I wouldn't recommend doing it for much longer than the two weeks at a time, but it's a great "quick fix" - if you want to keep off the weight, you have to eat a balanced diet and exercise...no quick fix there...just have to be committed to a healthy lifestyle long term. But if you just need to fit into that "little black dress" quickly - try it, it does work. I still use it once in a while to this day.
Comment #9
(Posted by Franne) Rating
Actually, this diet is almost identical to Phase 1 of South Beach and actually has more carbs allowed than Atkins.
Comment #10
(Posted by annie gonzalez) Rating
sounds real good,but so did all the other diets when they came out....
Comment #11
(Posted by dennis) Rating
i have tried this diet and it works
Comment #12
(Posted by Jeana) Rating
This diet really works. I know because Ive tried it for a short time and it seemed to be the easiest diet to follow! I even found the grapefriut easy to obtain when I went out to eat. My health was really an issue, and this diet helped me feel better really fast. My friends and family thought so as well. The only excercise I had done was to go to work and walk around and the usual parking lot at the grocery store! Try it before you decide if it will work for you too!
